After winning almost every medal possible in global tournaments, Mirabai Chanu finally added an Asian Games medal in her cabinet
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India’s Mirabai Chanu poses for photos after winning the silver medal in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event during the medal ceremony at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026(Photo: IANS/Biplab Banerjee)
Mirabai Chanu finally fulfilled her long-standing Asian Games dream on Wednesday after winning a silver medal in the women’s 49kg weightlifting categoryThe medal completed her collection of podium finishes at the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
The 32-year-old lifted a total of 198kg, with 87kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerkNorth Korea’s Ri Song-gum won the gold medal with a total lift of 210kg, while Indonesia’s Wijayana Luluk Diani Tri took bronze with 191kg.
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“Finally, I have won a medalI am very happy that I have a silverThis is what I have been waiting for for many yearsThis has been my dream since I started weightliftingToday, I have finally got it,” Mirabai told IANS after her podium finish.
The silver ended a difficult wait for Mirabai, who had missed out on an Asian Games medal in her previous two opportunitiesShe was forced to miss the 2018 Asian Games due to injury, while her campaign at the 2023 Hangzhou Games ended with a fourth-place finish.
Mirabai had entered the Hangzhou competition with medal hopes but a thigh injury affected her clean and jerk attemptsShe eventually finished just outside the podium.
The Indian weightlifter admitted that winning the medal brought back memories of another emotional moment in her career.
“Yes, I was very emotional in GlasgowThey were happy tearsToday also I felt like cryingI had tears in my eyes out of happiness, but I didn’t cryI was very happyI got what I wantedToday, my dream has come true,” she said.
“I am very happy with this medalI have been dreaming of winning a medal in Asian Games for many yearsToday, my dream has come trueI am very proud of myselfI have won a silver medal for the country in weightlifting after many years,”
The medal also ended India’s 28-year wait for an Asian Games medal in weightliftingMirabai became the country’s first weightlifting medallist at the Asian Games since Karnam Malleswari won silver at the 1998 Bangkok edition.
Mirabai already has an Olympic silver medal, a world championship title and several Commonwealth Games gold medals to her nameAfter adding an Asian Games silver to her record, she also made a request to the government for another honour.
“I would like to request the government to give me the Arjuna awardI will be very happyThe Arjuna award is the biggest awardI don’t have itI want itI will be very happy if the government considers my achievement and awards it to me,” she said.
